Public beaches open for the holiday

Water samples taken at both public beaches at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park indicate the water is ready for swimming for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Water samples taken at both public beaches at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park indicate the water is ready for swimming for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources took water samples at Grand Glaize Beach and Public Beach No. 1 to test E. coli levels in the water. Both passed well below the Environmental Protection Agency's recommended maximum levels of E. coli colonies per sample.

The EPA and MoDNR strictly enforce the maximum recommended levels of 235 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water and geomean of 126 E. coli colonies per 100 milliliters of water.

Geomean is a rolling average of samples taken at both beaches.
Water samples were taken at both beaches on Monday, May 21.
Last year, Grand Glaize Beach, also known at Public Beach No. 2, was closed for a number of weeks due to high levels of E. coli.

Representatives at MoDNR blamed the readings on heavy rainfall causing runoff and a large goose population living at the beach.

The source of the E.coli has not been identified.
MoDNR and the city of Osage Beach serve and maintain sewer lines in the state park.
MoDNR officials have said further testing to indicate whether the high E. coli readings were due to fowl or humans was too expensive.

The department placed a number of coyote decoys throughout Grand Glaize Beach in hopes of scaring off the goose population.

The gaggle of geese mainly ignored the decoys.
So far this year, the gaggle of geese is reaching numbers close to the 20s.

Lake of the Ozarks State Park includes two public beaches, marinas, docks and boat launch ramps, as well as camping facilities, playgrounds and picnic shelters.

A number of trails wind through the park as well.
The park draws more than one million visitors annually.

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